The Gift of Education - Pledging my Birthday to Camfed

There are moments and events which automatically make you think about your life, what you have achieved, what you have been through. There are perfect moments that allow you to take the time to reflect on how things are going. How things have gone in life.

A milestone birthday in just over a month is one such moment. Ten years ago my 30th birthday was one of the best birthdays I have ever had. My husband went all out to make it memorable. This year, with three small kids in tow, there'll be nothing so adventurous or dramatic in the planning. Or at least I hope that's the case (after all I'm no spring chicken anymore :-) !!). I've certainly no interest in celebrating in grand style (do you hear me dear husband?). In fact for most of the last year it had actually been a milestone I was dreading. Then something clicked into place and my dread dissipated into something else.

Gratitude.

I'm incredibly lucky that I get to celebrate turning 40. There are so many people that don't have that pleasure. What's more I will reach this milestone and be able to say I have everything I need in life. I have a roof over my head, we are financially stable, I have the luxury of being able to stay home for my  children and work when I can, need to or feel like it. I have the pleasure of living in a country I was not born in, to experience every day a culture different to my own, to speak a foreign language in my daily life. More importantly, I have a beautiful family. I have three little boys who bring out the best in me every day. I have a husband who has supported me with every decision I have ever made, who has smoothed out every bump I have gone over and who I can't imagine being without. In short, what more could I possible need? That's why I am pledging my 40th birthday to Camfed.

Education opens doors. I had a great education. I went through primary school and secondary school in England. I took GCSE's and A-Levels and still wanted more so I went to university and earned a degree. I even got to study in France for a year. Once I had finished with that and entered the workplace I went back to education and I did a postgraduate course on a part time basis. Years of education. All taken for granted. How different my school life would have been if I had been born on another continent. Somewhere where a good education is a privilege not a right.

My target is to raise enough money to buy the essential equipment that can keep 20 children in school for a year. £15 provides essentials like a uniform, books, pens and pencils for a boy or girl in rural Africa. Imagine that - my birthday giving others the gift of education. That is something I can smile about as I turn 40!

You can visit my fundraising page here and you can read about Camfed and what they do here. Every penny/cent helps!!